The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-01-27
Naturalists and IHitteratf.

There was tlme-and that not SO
very long ago-when a man OF letters
was entirely unlikely TO be man oj
science, and men Of science were scarce.
~ more likely to have much facility
with their pens 1t was said of Scott.
indeed, that he was the first English
novelist to lead his readts out of doors.
However that may be. he certainly did
take them out of doors, and right glori-
ously, in both his prose and his poetry.
Nor can-that man be called other than
unhappy who does not still enjoy read
ing OF all those knights and merry men
under the greenwood tree; who does
not like to hear the ''hark and whoop
and wild halloo" in 1.-The Lady of the
Lake" or go joyously into the hunting
field with Di Vernon; who does not, in
''Rob Roy" gladly accompany the great
novelist who made the Highlands a
Mecca with his striking tales of war
and adventure. But SCOTS readers look
to him for action, for romantic scenery,
Tor air and exercise, and do not expect
any minute observation of nature, as
Audubon and Button understood it-as
we have been made to understand it bv
Thoreau, Mr.. Burroughs, Mr. Torrev,
and Miss Thomas, whose Round Year"
has just set US to thinking of this sub
ject.
o! Brignall banks are wild and fair,
And Greta woods are green.
And yCu may gather garlands there
would grace II summer queen.
But you may ask in vain what flowers
went to make these garlands which were
gathered on Brignall banks and in
Greta woods, Just as one is inclined tc
doubt whether Shelley knew where his
skylark had its nest, and to suspect
Burns of not knowing any too much of
the natural history of the field mouse,
in spite of the genius born words in
which he describes the cowerin' beastie.
The natural historians, on the other
hand, used never to be expected to show
literary skill, and the greater number
of them-even several of the most ia
mous-one would not think of reading
except for information. Button, to be
sure. has style, but 1t is usually so out
of keeping with his subject that his
readers are sometimes tempted to wish
that, like most of the older naturalists.
he had none.
1t has been reserved for an American
school-Atlantic, as it might be called
to SHOW what minute observation and
good writing can accomplish between
them. In saying this we do not forget
one or two English novelists who have
come close to nature in some of her
visible forms. Kingsley and his Devon
shire coast can not soon be forgotten,
but he again. as well rs Mr. Black. is
chiefly concerned with what may be
broadly described as scenery As FOR
Thomas Hardy wonderful and beaUti-
ful as are many uf his descriptions his
treatment of nature is so subjective. SO
much OF his own personality enters even
into picture OF a hedoerow, that he
scarcely counts in our discussion. 1t is,
then, to an American school that We
must look for real union OF literature
and natural history. Mr.. Burroughs,
Miss Thomas, Mr.. Torrey-the list is by
no means exclusive-not only knows "a
bank whereon the wild thyme grows
but they know also all thai is to be
learned about the wild thyme itself
In other words. the woods and the fields
and the streams are as much within
their ken as the poets. Mr.. Burroughs
Mrs. Oiiphant says that American
women abroad speak OF him proudly as
dear John Burroughs'-Mr. Burroughs
me- iCNtS llO ct1AtlIiCol hSltltl III MS aC-
counts of birds and wild flowers, but he
likewise has an eye for whatever is
grand in nature. and an ear tor the
greatest poets. Miss Thomas. too. is
capabe-and shows that she is capable
of observation, as well as that of old
White. of Silborne, when he was watch
ing for the venerable tortoise to come
out of his hole. Her vigilance is so
keen that the slightest changes in the
anemone when the wind blows over it
do not escape her; yet Miss Thomas
also is hand and glove with the poets
not only with those who are familiarly
quoted, but such us Elizabethan Davis,
''whose verse;" she affirm, ''has a touch
both of the savant and transcendentai-
ist. "-BoSton Post